Master of Science in Administration of Justice
Description
The Graduate Education Program of the Center for Juvenile Justice Training and Research, through the Department of Criminal Justice at Shippensburg University, offers a thirty-six credit graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Administration of Justice with a specialization in Juvenile Justice.
Classes meet five weekends each semester, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. One class meets from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and the other from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The dates on which classes will meet are determined on a semester-by-semester basis, but the normal pattern is to meet every third weekend.
Most requirements in the program are traditional, i.e, papers, exams, textbooks; however, many of the methods of instruction used and the majority of the material covered is non-traditional and designed to meet the special needs of persons employed full-time in the juvenile justice field.
The program is competency-based; its intent is to develop in students a set of competencies jointly arrived at by the Shippensburg University Criminal Justice Department and the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission.
Eligibility
The program is available to full-time county juvenile probation officers in Pennsylvania who graduated from an accredited college or university with at least 18 credits in the behavioral or social sciences, and who have been employed in the social service field for at least two years subsequent from their admission. As space allows, county juvenile detention staff may be admitted to the program upon the recommendation of the Juvenile Court Administrative Judge.
Costs
The Juvenile Court Judges' Commission pays all tuition costs, lodging and meals during the class weekends. Partial travel reimbursement is also available for students who commute more than 100 miles each way to Shippensburg University. Students are responsible for all other costs, including books, University fees and non-reimbursed travel expenses. Cost for books are fees are approximately $400 per year.
Conditions
Students agree to attend the program continuously for two calendar years, and to maintain their current employment status for the duration of the program and for at least two years after graduation. Students who fail to met these conditions will be required to reimburse the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for all, or a portion of, tuition costs paid on their behalf.
Application Process
Applications are currently being accepted for the Class of 2013, which begins September, 2011. Since there are a limited number of positions available for each class, admission is on a competitive basis. The application process is as follows:
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Submit the completed Graduate Education Program Application Form.
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Submit the
Recommendation Form [PDF], which is to be completed and signed by the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer in your county. (Note: Applicants who are employed at detention facilities will also need a letter of endorsement from the county's Juvenile Court Administrative Judge.)
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Submit a copy of your undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable with the initial application. Shippensburg University will require the official transcripts prior to admission.
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If you undergraduate GPA is less than 2.75, you must take and pass the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the GRE.
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Submit your resume.
In order to process your application for admission, please forward the above-listed items no later than September 1, 2010 to:
Stephen Bishop
Graduate Education Program
CJJT&R
Shippensburg University
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Mr. Bishop at (717) 477-1294.
